How to Wear Cream Eyeshadows Like Katie Holmes

I’ve always been a little intimidated (okay, a lot intimidated) by cream eyeshadows! I figured they would be hard to control; I was afraid they would get really lumpy and stick in my eyelid creases.

But realistically there really should be no reason we all can’t wear cream eyeshadow! This type of shadow gives a great fresh look to the blah blah boring powdery shadow and is great a option for the makeup minimalist who doesn’t want to deal with an eyeshadow brush!

This picture of Katie Holmes (doesn’t she look gorgeous??) shows how cream shadow can look super subtle yet really pretty and accentuate your eyes in a fresh way.

My two favorite cream shadows are:

1. Bobbi Brown’s Long Wear Cream Shadow ($22), because the color stays true during wear and it has a velvety feel.
2. Nars Cream Eyeshadow ($21) is another good option because it gives a beautiful wash of color and transforms from cream to powder once applied.

For a more perfect application, start with an eyeshadow base or just use your translucent pressed powder and dab all over your eye bed before you begin.

When applying these shadows you have a few options for application:

• You can use your finger if you just want a quick wash of color for a more natural look.
• Or, if you want a more precise look, use a brush tool specifically designed for cream shadows and brush on one coat.
• Wait for it to dry a bit, then brush on one more layer for added depth.
• The above picture of Katie shows that the same color used on the upper lid, was also used in a minimal way along the bottom lashes as well!
• Definitely use a small tipped brush to stroke along the lower lash line.

If you want to wear eyeliner with this type of shadow, using a gel eyeliner or liquid liner is best because you can draw over the cream shadow once applied. L’Oreal Paris Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner ($8) is a wonderful choice for drawing a perfect line over your cream shadow! It was voted one of the “Best Of Beauty” by Allure magazine in 2007.

Have fun with cream eyeshadows and give yourself a new makeup challenge by trying one out today!